House explosion in Newark

An investigation into the cause of the explosion at a house in Newark in Nottinghamshire has today ruled out the domestic gas supply.

Police and fire crews will continue to establish what caused the explosion, which resulted in the death of Jeanette Rourke and Leslie Rourke on Sunday 19 May.

Demolition work will continue today after an explosion in Newark which killed seventy one year-old Leslie Rourke and his his daughter-in-law Jeanette. Houses either side of the property are being knocked down.

Crews say it could take another 10 days for the area around a house blast in Nottingham to be made secure.

Two people died in the explosion in Newark on Sunday. Six properties may have to be demolished.

Wright Street in Newark in Nottinghamshire is closed in both directions because police are still investigating the gas blast that took place between Hill Vue Gardens and Clay Lane/Cromwell Road.

Up to six properties are being demolished following the explosion at the weekend. Restrictions are also likely to be in place on other local roads as a result.

Source: INRIX

Police were last night investigating whether a botched job sparked the explosion which tore through a row of terraced houses in Newark.

Company director Leslie Rourke, 71, was discovered buried in rubble beneath the ground floor.

Fire crews searching the wreckage found the body of his daughter-in-law Jeanette Rourke, 40.

Mrs Rourke’s husband, Nick, 42, was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the explosion in Newark, Nottinghamshire, on Sunday.

A four-month-old girl had a miraculous escape meanwhile after being rescued from a neighbouring property along with a seven-year-old boy and another woman. All three have already been discharged from Queen’s Medical Centre.

At least 100 people were evacuated following Sunday’s explosion.

A police cordon remains in place at the scene of a suspected gas blast in Wright Street, Newark.

Work is continuing to remove roof slates and bricks from the houses affected while forensic investigations take place.

Building Control Services from Newark and Sherwood District Council will be doing the controlled demolition of the supporting walls and the rest of the roof structure on the two neighbouring properties.

Residents in odd numbered properties of Wright Street have now gone back to their homes.

People from Private Street and even numbered properties in Wright Street are being asked to get ready for another night away from their homes.

Demolition and forensic work may continue to disrupt utility supplies to these properties.

Residents from affected properties should report to the Information Centre at Charles Street Methodist Church or contact the helpline on 0300 500 80 80.

National Grid will need to get into the properties to restore supply and carry out testing.

Senior officers are due to meet at 9am this morning, to decide if residents in Newark can return to their homes.

Last night (Monday), some people who live near the explosion were briefly allowed back into their houses to collect belongings.

Members of the emergency services will be back at the scene of an explosion in Newark today.

A man and a woman died in the blast at a house. Specialists will now try to establish what led to the explosion.

It has been suggested it could have been the result of DIY being carried out at the property, but police are keen to stress they are keeping an open mind.

A devastating explosion has killed two people after a suspected gas blast in North Nottinghamshire.

Six people were injured, including a baby and a seven-year-old boy. The children have been released from hospital but one man is still in a serious condition.

Emergency services have been at the scene for the last 24 hours with demolition work still taking place tonight. David Hirst reports.